[ad_1]
US scientists have revealed that octopus, under the influence of ecstasy, became very social. The popular drug MDMA, which gives an experience of euphoria and closeness to others, is popular among rave parties and festivals.
Octopuses, which are often of a reclusive nature, are separated from humans by 500 million years of evolution.
Octopuses are intelligent creatures and are even able to solve puzzles. They often foil their own prey. However, with regard to humans and octopus, the brain of the latter is completely different from the first.
The unusual study was conducted by scientists in order to understand the old brain mechanisms that control social behavior in animals.
The brains of octopus are more like snails than humans, but our studies add to the evidence that they can present some of the behaviors we can. say
– Dr. Gul Dolen, the neuroscientist who led the experiments, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
The genetic analysis of the two-point octopus in California revealed that his brain had the molecular components needed to detect MDMA. This means that octopuses share the same genes that control the binding of brain cells with serotonin, a chemical that controls the mood.
How the research was done
The research was conducted to investigate whether the behavior of an octopus would change after consuming ecstasy.
Eight octopuses were placed in a bath containing MDMA (ecstasy) for 10 minutes and then transferred to a chamber with plastic figures for interaction or other cages with more octopuses.
The drugged octopuses were friendlier than the ones that were not. It was noted that they spent more time with other octopuses and that they were in close physical contact. According to an independent report, the scientists noted that this contact did not seem aggressive.
The octopuses were seen tightening and putting their mouths on the cage. This behavior was similar to that of humans when they are under the influence of MDMA.
The study published in the scientific journal Current Biology suggests the existence of profound evolutionary links between human behavior and that of octopus.
However, the results of the study can only be confirmed after a few additional experiments. If successful, octopus can become a new laboratory model for the human brain.
Source link
